Monday, June 6, 2011

Coach Rizzotti’s USA Basketball U19 National Team Takes Shape Following Exhibition Game

Hawk’s head coach Jen Rizzotti and her USA Basketball assistant coaches Sue Semrau (Florida State) and Joi Williams (Central Florida) firmed up their 12-member roster for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship following an exhibition against Brazil. The U.S., three-time defending champions, will look to defend its gold medal at this year’s championship scheduled for July 21-31 in Puerto Montt and Puerto Veras, Chile.

As a conclusion for a weeklong training camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., the 15 finalists for the 2011 USA U19 World Championship Team the U.S. defeated Brazil by a 49-37 final. The training camp in Orlando was held in conjunction with the ESPN Rise Girls Showcase.

"This was very difficult and that's a credit to the girls, how hard they worked and how committed they were in their desire to want to be on the team," said Rizzotti. "It makes this process really hard. I'm excited about finally being down to 12 and thinking over the next few weeks about what I can do with this group of kids to make sure we are as prepared as we can be heading down to Chile and try to win a gold medal."

In an announcement on USA Basketball’s website following the game, the final 12-man roster for the 2011 Championship was announced. All 12 members of the USA U19 squad have prior international experience playing for USA Basketball, including four who were on the 2010 USA U18 National Team that qualified the U.S. for the U19 Worlds.

The USA U19 World Championship Team will reassemble for training camp July 11-15 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., before the team travels to Chile for its final preparations.

The USA has been drawn into Group B for preliminary round play. Tipping-off against Japan on July 21 at 12:30 p.m. (all times EDT), the USA will face Russia on July 22 at 12:30 p.m. and close the first round against Argentina on July 23 at 3:30 p.m. The second round will be played July 25-27, quarterfinals are slated for July 29, semifinals will be held on July 30 and the finals are scheduled for July 31.